Ben Marshall has completed his move to Blackburn Rovers.
Born in Salford, the England Under-21 international started his career on schoolboy forms at Manchester United, but failed to make the grade at Old Trafford. After then linking up with Crewe Alexandra’s youth side, he joined Stoke City in the summer of 2009.
Marshall didn’t make a single appearance for Tony Pulis and the Potters, and spent much of his three years under contract at the Britannia Stadium on loan spells at Northampton Town, Cheltenham Town, Carlisle United, and Sheffield Wednesday.
The winger rejected a new deal at Stoke in favour of a move to Leicester City in January 2012, and he went on to score seven goals in 56 appearances. This, in turn, earned him the interest of Blackburn, who have paid a reported £1million for his signature.
“I’ve always known about the club,” 21-year-old Marshall, who played under Rovers assistant manager Terry McPhillips whilst at Crewe, told the official club website. “I know how much of a big club it is, and I know what the expectations are.”
Those expectations for manager Gary Bowyer this season will be to clinch at least a playoff place in the Championship. Rovers have started the campaign with four points from as many games, having already suffered two defeats. Next up for the Ewood Park outfit is a home match against Lancashire rivals Bolton Wanderers on Saturday afternoon.
